Thursday, October 30, 2008

Somewhere In The Middle

Do you ever have those days when you wake up with a song in your head that you can't get out? I'm kind of having one of those days today, but the song is deep in my heart, not just in my head.... it's something that is causing me to really pause and think about my everyday walk with God.

It was written by Mark Hall of Casting Crowns. Mark recently spoke at our chapel service here at Skipstone, and we've had the opportunity since to spend some time with him. The cool thing about "knowing" the author of the song is that the words seem so much more real because I know the author has "lived" the song.

Isn't it interesting that sometimes we find ourselves in a similar situation when it comes to God's word. It sure makes the the words of scripture more meaningful and real when we know the author and we remember that those words are HIS words, spoken to us, not just writing on a page.

Here are the words to "Somewhere In The Middle"

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You’ll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You’re making me
Somewhere in the middle, You’ll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You’ll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You’re by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I’m caught in the middle

Moving From The Middle,
Chip Moody

P.S. On a side note, Casting Crowns has recently been nominated for an American Music Award. Click on the link below to cast your vote!

Vote Casting Crowns for 2008 AMAs

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Brrrh.....what happened to Fall?

It's another cold morning at Skipstone! It's kind of neat to watch out my office window this morning and see all of the kids coming in for school all bundled up. Our "human anatomy" synergy projects are due today, so a parade of eyeballs, spines, tongues, and all kinds of other "body parts" accompany the stocking caps and parkas. A little strange, but pretty cool!

I did a lot of reading in Psalms this morning. It's amazing how God can speak to the very need of our hearts if we are just faithful and consistent to spend time with Him every day, regardless of our "busyness".

Check out a few verses that really stuck with me this morning:
from Psalm 69
1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
3 I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

I wonder how long it has been since my throat was worn out from calling to God, or have my eyes really ever been "strained" because I'm looking for Him so intently?

also from Psalm 69
29 I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.
30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.

It's interesting to me to many of us tend to think of salvation as just a ticket to heaven, when in fact we are daily "being saved" from pain, distress, and the daily struggles of life. It seems that one of the ways we put "feet" on this idea is to praise God's name in songs, particularly songs of thanksgiving. Maybe when we sing praises of thanks for who He is, for what He has done, for what He is going to do, our problems just seem to fade in the light of His glory.

Whatever It Takes (even a sore throat and strained eyes!),
Chip Moody

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

When The Saints Come Marching In!

The saints will be marching into Skipstone today for our annual Senior Adult Celebration. Our theme to day is "Tailgate Party", so we'll fire up the grill in a little while and get ready for a great day of fun with our saints. Our special guest today will be Lanny Moody, a great Christian comedian who always does a wonderful job for us.

Please remember the family of Zach Weimer, a 12 year old young man from Knoxville, TN who was tragically killed in a zipline accident at Horns Creek Resort in Ocoee, TN several weeks ago. Our guests at Skipstone this past weekend knew Zach and his family and were, of course, very burdened for this family during this very difficult time. We also need to remember the staff of Horns Creek Resort as they deal with this accident and its aftermath. Click here to see the story as reported by the local news in Knoxville.http://www.wbir.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=884070745

Verse(s) of the day:

1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.
5 May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
6 and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Monday, October 27, 2008

Cold & Windy Start To The Week

Wow..... I way underestimated the sincerity of the forecasters when they called the weather for today. We had to cancel our Pumpkin Patch Party for the elementary school today because it is so cool and windy outside.

We had a great weekend.....all of the groups had a good time, everyone was safe, and I got to go to my favorite catfish place, Falls View Restaurant at High Falls and hurt myself on some fresh catfish!

I had to move my dad from the hospital to a rehabilitation center on Saturday. He wasn't very excited, and I kind of felt the same way. If you haven't been to a nursing home lately, it's easy to forget the suffering that many of our dear saints endure when the grow old. It's caused me to put a lot more thought into how I take care of my "temple" (since our bodies are God's temple) that has, at times, grown into a mega church!

Speaking of senior adults, we are hosting our annual Senior Adult Celebration tomorrow from 10am - 2pm. We will be having a tailgate party theme with some special guest and a great time of fun and fellowship for saints. This is by far one of our favorite events of the year. If you would like to participate, please call us at the office at 770-227-8966.


Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody
VP of Operations, Skipstone

Friday, October 24, 2008

Liquid Blessings Today / Busy Weekend Ahead!

Sorry we haven't updated in a couple of days. My dad took a fall during his first night home, and ended up back in the hospital less than 12 hours from being released. He is doing much better (thanks to Dr. Napier), and should come home today.

We have a VERY BUSY weekend ahead.... it's raining here all day today, so it might may our preparations a little more challenging! Please pray for these groups that will be our guests this weekend:

Mabel White Baptist Church of Macon will be having a youth retreat. Shorter College will be housing a team here that will be ministering at the NASCAR race this weekend. Solid Rock Baptist Church of Covington will be here on Saturday for a team building event. We also have a dad and son that will be tent camping this weekend.

Shondi & I will be hosting our friends David and Liz Gibson who founded and operate Deer Run Retreat near Nashville, TN. We had the privilege of visiting with them during our recent fall break from school. If you are ever in the Nashville area, they have a beautiful place. Check them out at deerrunretreat.org

Our Pumpkin Patch day has been postponed until Monday due the the liquid blessing God is proving for us to today!

Verse(s) of the day:
Psalm 104 - CEV
The LORD Takes Care of His Creation
1I praise you, LORD God, with all my heart. You are glorious and majestic, dressed in royal robes
2and surrounded by light. You spread out the sky like a tent,
3and you built your home over the mighty ocean. The clouds are your chariot with the wind as its wings.
4The winds are your messengers, and flames of fire are your servants.
5You built foundations for the earth, and it will never be shaken.
6You covered the earth with the ocean that rose above the mountains.
7Then your voice thundered! And the water flowed
8down the mountains and through the valleys to the place you prepared.
9Now you have set boundaries, so that the water will never flood the earth again.
10You provide streams of water in the hills and valleys,
11so that the donkeys and other wild animals can satisfy their thirst.
12Birds build their nests nearby and sing in the trees.
13From your home above you send rain on the hills and water the earth.
14You let the earth produce grass for cattle, plants for our food,
15wine to cheer us up, olive oil for our skin, and grain for our health.
16Our LORD, your trees always have water, and so do the cedars you planted in Lebanon.
17Birds nest in those trees, and storks make their home in the fir trees.
18Wild goats find a home in the tall mountains, and small animals can hide between the rocks.
19You created the moon to tell us the seasons. The sun knows when to set,
20and you made the darkness, so the animals in the forest could come out at night.
21Lions roar as they hunt or the food you provide.
22But when morning comes, they return to their dens,
23then we go out to work until the end of day.
24Our LORD, by your wisdom you made so many things; the whole earth is covered with your living creatures.

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

10/21/08 Update

Good day today......
GAC (Georgia Accrediting Commission) came today and we met all of the criteria (again!) for Skipstone Academy - thanks to all of our staff for a great job getting ready.

Working on Christmas @ Skipstone plans....lots and lots of details(and lights) yet to be unraveled!

Also working on Fall Fundraiser for Skipstone - Bird Brawl Skeet Shoot and Turkey Bowling on November 15th at Cherokee Rose..... and a raffle for a shotgun, some big time Bass Pro Shop gift cards and?????

Heading out soon to help decorate at the church for ALIEN NITE tomorrow night..... can't decide if I'm wearing a costume or just going as a normal alien!!!!!

Praise the Lord - my dad finally came home from the hospital today after ICU. life support, 9 days in bed!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip

Christmas @ Skipstone Preparations Begin

A quick word of thanks to a team from Oak Hill Church in Griffin who came out last night to help us begin hanging lights for our annual Christmas @ Skipstone event. With over 300,000 lights to hang, we have to get started early in order to get everything powered up in time for the event, which is held the first two weekends in December and is open to the public free of charge.

We always have volunteer opportunities here at Skipstone, so if you are looking for somewhere to invest your time in a worthwhile mission, please contact Sabrina Padgett, our volunteer coordinator, at 770-227-8966 and let her know that you would like to help.

Election Results Predicted Here Today!

Didn't sleep well last night.... lots on my heart and mind. I'm still digesting all of the events of yesterday, while anticipating the day ahead.

One of the things that everyone seems to be concerned about is the upcoming election. Regardless of which side of the aisle people find themselves on, almost everyone I talk with has an opinion, is "concerned", or at least curious about what the outcome will be.

I'm about to make a bold prediction...... I believe that God has revealed to me what the outcome of the election will be. That's right, I'm willing to go out on a limb here and publicly proclaim what I am certain will be the results of the presidential election in a few weeks......

It came to me directly from God's word in my quiet time this morning......
Proverbs 21:1 "The LORD controls rulers, just as he determines the course of rivers". - CEV

The reality is that God is ultimately the Ruler of all "rulers". I don't know if this does for you what it does for me, but if I can digest this, I can take one more "concern" off of my list today. God is not only in control of my life and circumstances today, He is in complete control of the whole universe. There are no emergency meetings in heaven to discuss the possible outcomes of the election, the global financial crisis, or anything else we are prone to worry about after we watch the evening news. GOD is in CONTROL - don't be fooled, and don't forget!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Monday, October 20, 2008

daily update 10/20

Busy day today....
***new playground "fort" was delivered for the Academy - "Thank You" to Blake's
***had a great meeting with some guys from Eagle's Landing FBC about a winter retreat
***had a nice visit with the folks at Camp Fortson, will be working together with them on Eagle's Landing retreat in February - the place looks great, lots of remodeling since I saw it last!
***enjoyed meeting Keith, the owner of Fuddruckers on Hwy. 20 - thanks for the shakes:)

Getting ready for GAC visit tomorrow....please pray for Randy & Shondi... lots of work!

Today's Verse(s):
Psalm 119
1Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong;they walk in his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Deep Roots... God's answer to the economic crisis

Good stuff this AM in my quiet time......

From Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

5 This is what the Lord says:“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. 6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness,in an uninhabited salty land.
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

And check out the message from today's Psalms...
Ps. 17:8 "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings"
Ps. 17:14 "you still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty"
Ps. 37:3 "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture"
Ps. 37:4 " Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart"
Ps. 37:7 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him"
Ps. 37:18-19 "The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster, they will not wither; In days of famine they will enjoy plenty"
Ps. 77:11-14 "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples."

Why is it so hard for us to just believe what God's word says? The more I read, the more I believe that my battle lies in learning to place my trust DAILY in Him, not in my own wisdom(more a lack of wisdom really) and strength. The challenge to join God's agenda for me today and die to my own.... put down the list, walk by faith and night by sight...... good stuff